CHAPTER 273: AN EYE FOR AN EYE (1)

“Marquis, we are ready.”

“We will take care of that insolent fellow right away. Just give us the order.”

The three Dragon Knights guarding Marquis Dren openly displayed their anger.

Ethan Whiskers had committed an enormous rudeness.

It was such a rude act that, as the marquis said, even if he had been killed on the spot, no one could have dared to object.

If the marquis hadn’t stopped them, all three would have drawn their swords right there.

But they didn’t draw their swords.

It was very unfamiliar for them to just stand by while someone insulted their lord.

“Calm down. This is rather fortunate. Call the chief administrator right away. We need to return to our domain.”

“…Yes.”

But Marquis Dren was terrifyingly calm.

Clearly, until he came out of the reception room, his face had been full of anger and he was emitting a menacing aura.

But when the marquis came out of the lord’s castle, his face looked infinitely colder than before.

“Chief Administrator.”

“Yes, Marquis!”

The marquis gave orders to the chief administrator who had just arrived.

“I’ve seen everything I needed to see and confirmed everything I needed to confirm. We’re returning to our domain.”

“…”

The chief administrator looked at the marquis. He could read the marquis’s intentions with just a brief exchange of glances.

“Yes.”

The chief administrator raised his hand high.

“We’re returning!”

***

That night.

After returning to his domain, Marquis Dren had a conversation with the chief administrator.

“How was it?”

“It was real.”

Throughout their stay in Count Whiskers’ domain, the chief administrator moved separately from Marquis Dren.

While Marquis Dren was dealing with Count Whiskers and Ethan, he led the knights and magic troops to investigate various parts of the domain.

The marquis personally confirmed Ethan Whiskers, and the chief administrator confirmed the domain.

“I will report. As a result of our confirmation, it was verified that the influence of Princess Evangeline and His Holiness the Pope indeed reaches there. The size of the domain is also much larger and more stable than expected.”

The two things the chief administrator prioritized checking were the influence of these two powerful figures – the princess and the pope – and the internal affairs of the Whiskers domain.

Earlier reports had indicated that the finances of the Whiskers domain were extremely stable.

However, the chief administrator intended to reserve judgment until he could confirm with his own eyes.

And today, upon direct confirmation, the scale of the Whiskers domain was beyond imagination.

“The market, in particular, is incredible. All the power of the Whiskers domain comes from the market.”

“…The market?”

“I will explain in detail.”

The chief administrator explained in detail what he had seen.

The enormous market in the Whiskers domain.

And the numerous people visiting that market.

“The development of the Whiskers domain stems from the enormous number of floating population. All of that floating population are people visiting the market.”

“What’s in the market that attracts so many?”

“Businesses that no one else can replace.”

The businesses in the Whiskers domain that the chief administrator described were ones that even Marquis Dren had never heard of before.

“Dyeing workshop? Lightweight workshop? What on earth are those?”

“That’s not all. They also sell something called special golems, which reportedly serve as excellent teachers for educating children or cultivating talent. It’s highly praised even among high-ranking nobles.”

“Golems serving as teachers, what does that mean?”

The marquis was particularly shocked by the explanation of the special golems.

High-ranking nobles should be able to hire excellent teachers through their wealth and connections.

Yet they still choose to buy and use Ethan’s special golems.

From Marquis Dren’s perspective, it was a situation he simply couldn’t understand.

“Tell me more details.”

“Those special golems…”

The chief administrator explained in detail what abilities the special golems possessed.

He also explained how much profit the businesses in the Whiskers domain were generating.

Marquis Dren’s expression turned cold as he heard about the business profits of the Whiskers domain.

“The documents.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

The chief administrator quickly handed over documents related to the businesses in the Whiskers domain.

“…It’s confirmed.”

The marquis looked at the chief administrator as if he had made up his mind.

“Summon the Nightwalkers right away. And contact Crescent Moon. It’s tonight. We’ll end everything tonight. We’ll finish everything while that insolent young fellow is off guard. If we don’t end this quickly, it’s likely to become a flow that I can’t handle.”

“But Marquis, if things go even slightly wrong, it will turn out exactly as they want.”

The Whiskers domain now had the deterrence of the Third Princess and the Pope.

The Pope goes without saying. Even just the Third Princess is not an opponent the marquis can handle.

Even for a family of the Twelve Families, it’s a matter that comes with great burden.

How could the Marquis family handle a princess?

Moreover, the princess is no ordinary figure.

She is Princess Evangeline Sacred, who has recently recovered from illness and is once again solidifying her position as successor.

“I know.”

He knew better than anyone that he couldn’t touch the Whiskers domain protected by these two people.

How could one who wields power not know the power of authority?

The marquis himself well knew that Ethan Whiskers had anticipated all this and was using it as a weapon to push back strongly.

Nevertheless, he had to move.

“I have a feeling that if I take one step back, I’ll end up taking two steps back. No, it won’t end with just two steps. I can’t even guess how much of what I’m holding onto I might lose.”

“…Marquis.”

“I thought he was just a young upstart. I’ve seen and dealt with plenty of talented youngsters before. But none of them were like this one.”

The network Ethan Whiskers had built in such a short time was almost unbelievable.

“It’s fine even if we give him justification. It doesn’t matter if we move according to his expectations. Even so, this is something we must do.”

The marquis said.

“The dead don’t speak.”

The marquis grinned, baring his teeth.

“Without the main character, would the princess and the pope move so actively?”

“But the risk is too great.”

“It can’t be handled without risk. That’s my judgment.”

The chief administrator was silent for a moment. There was no reason to object further since the marquis had made his own judgment and decision.

“I will follow your orders.”

“A Whiskers domain without Ethan Whiskers poses no threat. Count Whiskers is just a fool who only knows how to bluff while standing behind his son.”

The marquis smiled.

“If we just take care of Ethan Whiskers, all problems will disappear. Prepare right away.”

“Yes.”

Before this night is over.

Ethan Whiskers will be assassinated.

***

A man in pitch-black attire, as if blended with the darkness itself, received a parchment.

“This is quite urgent. The commission fee is substantial too.”

“Please handle this with top priority.”

“The target?”

“Ethan Whiskers.”

“A rookie, huh.”

The man in black snapped his fingers with a ‘click’, and a long parchment reaching from the ceiling to the floor appeared.

“Ethan Whiskers… Ethan Whiskers… Here it is.”

The man, after scanning the parchment, showed the part where Ethan Whiskers’ name was written to the client.

“The commission fee is substantial, but it’s not enough.”

“…What? Didn’t you just say he was a rookie? I brought enough commission for ten rookies.”

“He’s not just any rookie. We both know what we’re dealing with here, so this won’t do.”

The man in black recited the information written under Ethan Whiskers’ name.

“He’s connected to Princess Evangeline, and even the Pope. He’s also linked to various Merchant Guilds. Just accepting this commission comes with enormous risk.”

“Even for you, who’s called a legend among the Nightwalkers?”

“I have many mouths to feed and lives to be responsible for.”

“Are you scared?”

“Hahaha-“

The man chuckled at those words.

“Hey, I became an assassin because I’m a coward.”

Swish-

Without warning, a dagger was pointed at the client’s neck.

“Aren’t you being a bit disrespectful? Even the marquis doesn’t treat me like this, how dare a mere underling?”

“I-I’m sorry! I was in such a hurry! I received orders from the marquis to finish everything by tonight!”

The man shouted urgently.

“Please help us just this once.”

“Hmm, if that marquis sent you in such a hurry, I suppose there must be a definite reward for this job?”

“Of course! Since this is the matter the marquis is most concerned about, there will surely be additional rewards beyond the danger!”

After pondering for a moment, the man in black nodded.

“I’ve accepted the job. Tonight. The commission is for Ethan Whiskers’ head.”

“I’m counting on you, Sif.”

Meanwhile, in a secret location of the Marquis family, there were others departing towards the Whiskers domain.

These were the Nightwalkers directly raised by the Marquis family.

“The objective is to eliminate key figures in the Whiskers domain.”

These were the Marquis family’s assassination squad, not officially affiliated with the Marquis family. Operating in utmost secrecy, they had been quietly assassinating the enemies of the Marquis family until now.

“Due to its rapid growth, the Whiskers domain is weak in internal personnel. If we eliminate the key figures, the domain will come to a standstill.”

The Whiskers domain had few internal decision-makers, allowing many matters to be handled quickly, but if the decision-makers disappeared, there was a lack of personnel to immediately replace them.

The assassination squad aimed for this weakness.

If they eliminated all the key figures, including Ethan Whiskers, there would essentially be no one left to clean up the aftermath.

“We receive your command.”

“Loyalty.”

“Loyalty.”

***

Ethan reviewed the information he knew about Marquis Dren one by one.

Today, he personally confirmed the situation in the Whiskers domain.

“And he saw me.”

Ethan recalled his eyes.

He could tell from the look in his eyes. Despite being greatly insulted, he showed no anger at all. Rather, he displayed an extremely cold gaze.

“It won’t take him long to confirm and make a decision.”

The marquis will plot behind the scenes.

He might try to assassinate him. Or he might try to assassinate the count.

Or it could be both.

“As we’ve developed rapidly, we have clear weaknesses.”

It was a weakness Ethan was well aware of.

To improve the problems piling up in the domain and realize business plans, it was important to make decisions and execute them quickly.

‘The steps from decision to order to execution are few.’

This had an immediate positive impact on the development of the domain.

The risks of this structure were also something he had anticipated.

If something happens to the decision-makers, all operations in the domain would be paralyzed. The weakness of the Whiskers domain, with its lack of manpower compared to other domains, would be exposed.

‘The ways to prevent work from being done are…’

Kidnapping or killing. Extreme, but these two were the most certain methods.

Causing a ruckus is impossible. Marquis Dren personally confirmed that Ethan has connections stronger than the name of the Twelve Families.

“Young Master Ethan.”

“We’re here.”

The two guards looked worried seeing Ethan still working late into the evening.

“You’ve returned to the domain after a long time, but you’re still not resting?”

“If there’s anything you need us to do, please let us know. You should rest, young master.”

“Now is not the time to sleep.”

At Ethan’s serious tone, the two guards straightened their posture.

“You must have an urgent task for us.”

Ethan sighed a few times as if pondering.

“To be honest, I’m not sure.”

“Pardon?”

The two guards’ eyes wavered at Ethan’s unfamiliar behavior. They had never seen Ethan look so unsure before.

“We’ll help if we can!”

Schudlen reassured Ethan.

Ethan stroked his chin once and then spoke.

“Tonight. Marquis Dren might make a move.”

“…Tonight?”

Yerica asked in surprise.

Didn’t Marquis Dren visit the domain today? He would make plans after confirming the situation of the domain today.

“Will he move this quickly?”

Yerica’s doubt was reasonable. Schudlen also didn’t think Marquis Dren would move right away today.

“If the marquis moves right away today, wouldn’t his scheme be too obvious?”

“It would be obvious. But it’s going to be obvious whenever he does it. So from the marquis’s perspective, the sooner the better. Moreover, I think the marquis has noticed.”

“…Noticed what?”

“That I am at the center of the Whiskers domain.”

Ethan said.

“That if I die, the growth of the Whiskers domain will stop.”

What Marquis Dren is wary of is not the current Whiskers.

It’s the future Whiskers that will endlessly rise once it gets on track.

By then, the marquis’s domain will essentially lose its competitiveness, overshadowed by Whiskers.

Ethan is the center of the current Whiskers, and moreover, the driving force that will create the future Whiskers.

The marquis confirmed this with his own eyes today.

“But…”

“He probably won’t touch it carelessly since the princess and the pope are watching. But that holds true only while I’m alive. If I die, everything could become ambiguous.”

“But who could kill you, young master? Unless it’s a legendary assassination group…”

Ethan knew about the assassination group that Marquis Dren used like errand boys.

Crescent Moon. As their name suggests, they were those who moved mainly at night.

‘And the ones directly raised by the Marquis family will come too. They’re not likely to target just me.’

“…”

The two guards could only blink their eyes at Ethan’s words.

If it had been someone else’s words, they would have said it was too much worry.

But Ethan was certain of an attack, even while being uncertain.

It was a paradoxical behavior, but Ethan had no choice but to be this way.

‘Because I don’t have any means to prove it right away.’

It was literally a hunch.

‘Because that’s what I would do.’

“Then we’ll prepare.”

Schudlen said.

“What should we do, young master?”

***

At the northern end of the Whiskers domain.

Nightwalkers appeared there.

“Target confirmed. Baron Dinude, who is running the northern domain.”

The assassins naturally blended into the darkness and entered the small castle in the northern domain.

They swept through the inside of the castle without hesitation and soon found Baron Dinude, the chief responsible for the northern Whiskers domain.

Then, without hesitation, they thrust their swords towards the neck of the sleeping Baron Dinude.

Swoosh-!

However, the sword pierced straight through the bed.

“!”

Baron Dinude, who had been lying down, turned his body to avoid the sword and immediately got up to slash the assassin.

“I’m not sure whether to be glad that my prediction was right or to admire the marquis’s bold actions.”

“Ethan Whiskers…!”

The Nightwalkers immediately tried to flee. But there was no way to escape anywhere.

“How…”

Why is Ethan Whiskers here?

The Nightwalkers hid their bewilderment and took their stance. It was no longer the time to worry about why he was here.

“…It’s too late anyway.”

“Your mistake was being here.”

“We will be everywhere in the Whiskers domain tonight, so after tonight, the Whiskers domain will come to a halt.”

Ethan slashed the Nightwalker just like that.

“That’s right, I can’t be everywhere.”

Ethan said.

This was exactly Marquis Dren’s strategy.

It doesn’t matter how great Ethan is.

There are many of them, and only Ethan shines in the Whiskers domain.

“That’s what people would normally think.”

Because he knew all too well the weaknesses that come with being alone, Ethan had anticipated all variables from the beginning.

And now, the power he possessed could transcend common sense.

“There are no more weaknesses.”

Ethan used his skill.

“Wind Cloud.”

Ethan had the power to be anywhere.

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